AA Sioux Falls Canaries

Pheasants Pound 'Dogs for Series Win

Published on May 22, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release


SIOUX FALLS-The Sioux Falls Pheasants reminded fans why they are the defending North Division champions in the finale of a three-game series with the Lincoln Saltdogs.

The Pheasants offense exploded for season highs in hits and runs in their 12-4 defeat of Lincoln Sunday at Sioux Falls Stadium. Kevin Carby led the way with four hits and two RBIs and Reggie Abercrombie hit his first home run of the season. The Pheasants improve to 4-7 on the year.

Carby's most important hit came in the fourth inning. He laced a two-out, two-run single to center to give the Pheasants a 4-3 lead. On the next pitch, Abercrombie belted a two-run shot to increase the lead to 6-3.

"I felt great today," Carby said. "I was seeing the ball well, and I owe it to my coaches for giving me what I need to succeed."

Starter Ben Moore (2-0) recorded the victory, going six innings while limiting the damage to just three runs on nine hits. But the story was the offensive outburst Pheasants fans had been waiting to see throughout the seven-game homestand.

The fireworks were out early and often during the matinee. The Pheasants took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on consecutive two-out hits by Brandon Sing and Mark Shorey.

The Saltdogs answered in the third when Phil Hawke ripped a sharp run-scoring single to right field that cut the lead to 2-1.

Sioux Falls loaded the bases in the bottom half, but Lincoln starter Tim Brown got Trevor Lawhorn to pop out in foul territory to get out of trouble.

Two fourth-inning errors by the Pheasants' defense put runners on first and third for Lincoln with no outs. Moore got a pop out and a strikeout before Blake Gailen hit a stand-up triple to give the Saltdogs a 3-2 lead before Sioux Falls' offense rebounded in the fourth.

"We've got a lineup that can hit," Carby said. "We just have to use this as a confidence boost moving forward."

The hits kept coming for Sioux Falls on three straight doubles by Lawhorn, Francisco Leandro and Gus Milner in the fifth, extending the Sioux Falls lead to five. The Pheasants continued to pile it on late with four eighth-inning runs.

The 19 hits, including eight extra-base hits, were a welcome sight for a team that had been struggling at the plate. Eight Sioux Falls starters had hits in the ball game, with six players having multi-hit ball games.

"For this clubhouse, being able to put together a game like this was important," said manager Steve Shirley. "We needed a day like this to remind ourselves that we have some good hitters."

The Pheasants tagged losing pitcher Tim Brown (0-2) for six runs on nine hits. Hawke and Gailen led the Lincoln offense with three hits apiece.

With the victory, the Pheasants earned their first series win on the year and have won three of their last four games. The team heads south to take on the Amarillo Sox in a three-game set starting at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, May 24. The game will be broadcast live on Sioux Falls Sports Radio 1230-AM KWSN and online at www.kwsn.com.

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